Puttur: 12-year-old Kakkoor family murder case resurfaces

Puttur: The investigation into the 12-year-old multiple murder case in Kakkoor, Bettampadi village still remains unresolved as the DNA report from the Pune Forensic Science Laboratory has revealed that the skeletal remains found in the forest do not belong to the missing homeowner, Venkataramana Bhat. This development has deepened the mystery surrounding the case.

Case Background

On June 12, 2012, a brutal incident occurred at Venkataramana Bhat’s house, located 1.5 kilometers from Renja in the Puttur taluk. Bhat’s wife, Sandhya, a teacher, their son Harigovind, and daughters Vedya and Vinutha were found murdered inside the house. However, Venkataramana Bhat, an astrologer and traditional healer, was missing. The gruesome incident came to light three days later when an electricity meter reader visited the house.

Skeletal Remains Not Bhat’s

Five months after the incident, on November 13, 2012, a human skeleton was discovered in the dense forest of Kakkoor. It was suspected to belong to the missing Venkataramana Bhat. To confirm, bone samples and blood samples from Bhat’s siblings were sent to the Pune Forensic Science Laboratory.

The laboratory’s report, however, has clarified that the skeletal remains do not belong to Venkataramana Bhat, as mentioned in the charge sheet submitted by the police to the court.

Killer Remains Unidentified

To date, the individual responsible for the murder of the four family members has not been identified, nor has any clue about the whereabouts of the missing Venkataramana Bhat. Despite the case being handed over to the CID two years after the incident, the investigation has not yielded any breakthroughs.

A week before the murders, there was a robbery at Bhat’s house. He had filed a complaint at the Sampa Rural Police Station, reporting the theft of seven gold sovereigns belonging to his wife and Rs 50,000 set aside for his children’s education. Just a week later, the brutal murders and Bhat’s disappearance occurred.

Initially, there were suspicions from both the public and the police that the robbery story was fabricated, but it was later confirmed to be true. An inter-state robbery gang was arrested, and they confessed to the robbery at Bhat’s house. However, the investigation revealed that they were not involved in the murders.

DNA Report Leaves Questions Unanswered

There were rumors that the deaths were caused by the curse of a ‘Nagmani’ (a mythical serpent jewel). It was even suggested that Venkataramana Bhat had planned to consult an oracle in Kerala for answers. Had the skeletal remains been confirmed as Bhat’s, the case might have been concluded with the theory that Bhat had killed his family and then committed suicide. However, with the DNA report proving otherwise, the questions of who the murderer is and where the missing Bhat is remain unanswered.